 His father Friedrich Georg von Berg (1763–1811) was a state councillor and his mother Gertruda Wilhelmine von Ermes (1774–1844) was a young noblewoman, the younger Friedrich was the first cousin once removed of generals Gregor (1765–1838) and Burchard Magnus von Berg (764–1838), both of who served in the Russian Imperial Army during the course of the Napoleonic Wars.Genealogists still debate where the originated in, many speculated they originated in Westphalia.The first known ancestor of the family to appear in Livonia was Otto von Berg.